Chocolate Oatmeal Cream Pies with Vanilla Bean Buttercream
Super easy, chewy chocolate oatmeal cookies filled with creamy, vanilla-bean-flecked frosting. Step aside, willpower.
Yield: 16sandwich cookies
Ingredients
For the chocolate oatmeal cookies:
1/2cup1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2cupgranulated sugar
1/2cuppacked dark brown sugar
1large egg
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1/2cupall-purpose flour
1/4cupcocoa powder
1teaspooninstant espresso powderoptional
1teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonsalt
1cuprolled oats
1batch vanilla bean buttercreamrecipe below
For the vanilla bean buttercream:
1/2cupunsalted butter1 stick, room temperature
1vanilla bean
1cuppowdered sugaraka confectioner’s sugar
Pinchsalt
2teaspoonswhipping cream
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Make the cookies:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat/Silpat - or just use a plain non-stick baking sheet. Either will work.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until pale yellow and fluffy, about three minutes.
Add egg and vanilla. Beat until blended.
Place a fine-mesh sieve over the bowl and sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed just until combined. Add the oats and mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
Scoop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet, placing cookies about 2 inches apart.
Bake until set and dry around the edges, about 9 minutes. If you prefer a crisper cookie, let cook for 2 - 3 minutes more. Cookies will set up after they cool. Let cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the vanilla bean buttercream:
Using a stand mixer with whisk attachment or a hand mixer and a medium-size bowl, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds.
With a paring knife, slice the vanilla bean length-wise, then scrape the seeds out with the tip of the knife. Add to the butter and mix until incorporated.
Add powdered sugar and salt. Beat on low until mixed, about one minute. Increase the speed to medium and mix for another 30 seconds.
Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream, and mix on medium for about 30 seconds until incorporated.
Increase the speed to medium high, and beat for about two minutes until creamy and slightly fluffy.
Assemble the cookies:
Sort cookies into pairs so that they match in size as closely as possible. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the buttercream on the bottom of one of the cookies; top with the other and repeat until you've filled all of your oatmeal cream pies.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.